Algonquin Park, c (1930), presents a majestic hillside bordered by trees, reflected in the calm waters of a lake beneath a blue sky dotted with drifting summer clouds. The shadows of the drifting clouds play across the hillside and lake, adding depth and atmosphere, while the natural interplay of light, shadow, and reflection brings the scene to life. His work had a significant influence on early Canadian landscape painting, providing a foundation upon which the Group of Seven would later build in their exploration of Canada’s natural environment.

John William Beatty (1869–1941) was trained at the Ontario School of Art under Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith and later at the Académie Julian in Paris. He exhibited alongside notable Canadian artists, including Homer Watson and William Brymner, helping to shape a distinctly Canadian approach to landscape painting. Beatty’s European training and connections with Canadian artists informed his teaching, helping him mentor the next generation of painters, including Doris McCarthy, Yvonne McKague Housser, and Carl Schaefer.

Signed in the lower left, this oil on canvas measures 28 x 36 inches.